ONE Asia Joint Concert 2014 to kick off tonight

THE highly anticipated ONE Asia Joint Concert 2014 will take place tonight at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas at 7.30pm.

The concert, jointly organised by the Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), will demonstrate musical cooperation between traditional Japanese and local musicians.

Performing for the Japanese side will be the top orchestral group in Japan, AUN J – which comprises eight young Japanese instrument players. The group, have received great acclaim from not just across Asia but Europe as well.

It was made to understand that the Japanese musicians and the locals have joined forces and incorporated traditional Brunei music with the use of Japanese instruments and Japanese music with Bruneian musical instruments, in their attempts to fulfil their goal to demonstrate Asian roots through making music.

Ryohei Inoue, one of the Japanese musicians, shared with the Bulletin yesterday with regard to the incorporation of traditional local music instruments into their Japanese ensembles. “Having worked previously before with musicians of the Culture and Arts section (of the MCYS), I look forward for the concert tomorrow,” he said. “I am very happy to collaborate with them again performing this traditional music.”

Traditional music performers from both Brunei and Japan set to woo the crowd tonight. – KHAL BA-HARULALAM

The concert will therefore see a group of five Bruneian youthful artistes under the auspices of the Culture and Arts section of the MCYS – two of whom will be joining the ONE Asia concert entourage in Myanmar, as part of the ONE Asia tour this year.

The significance of the joint performance lies in the true sense of the term – which has been made possible through traditional instruments – serving as a common language between our two countries.

The ONE Asia Joint Concert will be open to members of the public, and tickets can be collected at the Japanese Embassy Office in Kiulap. Tickets will guarantee seats. However, those without tickets will be allowed to enter, but seats will not be guaranteed.